Fuel sales decline over Easter

It appears that panic buying at petrol stations last month has resulted in sales of fuel over Easter falling by almost a third compared with the same period in 2011.

Figures released by the Retail Motor Industry (RMI) reveal that over the four-day weekend, sales of unleaded petrol were down 29% on the previous year, while diesel was 2.9% down.

Fewer people also purchased super diesel and super unleaded, down 60% and 39%, respectively.

The majority of motorists already had plenty of petrol after stocking up during March, with some garages even out of stock, said the RMI.

Garage forecourts overflowed with motorists filling up vehicles and jerry cans after Government ministers advised them to keep tanks topped up in the wake of fuel tankers voting to strike. It was also put forward that the gloomy weather over this period was a contributing factor to the low fuel sales.